Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers

The one thing I hear from people all the time is how they thought, "I'm the only non-religious person in the area." MAAF helps end the isolation so many non-theists feel by providing a community where atheists feel accepted. Their support extends to all military through

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Nonprofit Overview

Mission: To provide a supportive community for nontheistic service members, to educate military leaders about nontheism, and to resolve insensitive practices that illegally promote religion or unethically discriminate against nontheists.

Results: We have over 30 active affiliate groups across the globe, send care packages out monthly to deployed personnel, and provided support, advocacy, and resources to promote the needs of our nontheist servicemembers.

Target demographics: US military and veterans especially humanists and other nontheists for the benefit of all

Direct beneficiaries per year: Several thousand military personnel through local group activities and care packages

Geographic areas served: Wherever the US military sends our men and women in uniform

Programs: care packages to troops overseas, support and social groups, education for the greater community, advocacy and outreach in relation to policies and procedures directly affecting military personnel.

Community Stories

38 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

The one thing I hear from people all the time is how they thought, "I'm the only non-religious person in the area." MAAF helps end the isolation so many non-theists feel by providing a community where atheists feel accepted. Their support extends to all military through their packages to deployed soldiers and their efforts to make sure ALL soldiers are valued.

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MAAF fills a dire gap in the theistically dominated US military ranks. MAAF helps non-believers find comraderie & place to not only feel they belong, but to do good works - all in the face of religious military leaders who would shun & malign atheist when given the chance. Thank you for being there & keep up the good work, MAAF!

The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers provides an absolutely essential service to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who are not religious. The Military Chaplaincy has been very explicit that they will not support the growing population of non-believing servicemembers. MAAF helps to provide support to these abandoned atheists and freethinkers.

Previous Stories

MAAF has been wonderful. They supported our development of an atheist community at Fort Huachuca, providing literature and suggestions for networking. They supported us in an unsuccessful attempt to get support from the military chaplaincy and the garrison.

I am a major supporter of MAAF. In the Netherlands we have fifty-three years humanist chaplaincy in the Armed Forces. In the almost twenty years that I work as a humanist chaplain (Royal Dutch Marines), I have noticed that I can make a difference for soldiers and veterans. During my tour of duties, including Iraq and Jordan, I spoke to many American soldiers who would like to go to a humanist chaplain. I hope that atheists and freethinkers in the United States are treated in the same way as Chirstians and Muslims. Let's think about boundaries and work together for peace and security. Col. Erwin Kamp MA, Head of the Humanist Chaplaincy in the Dutch Armed Forces.

As a political activist, I highly value organizations that vigilantly work to address violations of the necessary separation between church and state. As an atheist, I greatly appreciate organizations that provide much-needed support to non-theists in our overwhelmingly religious society, particularly those non-theists who may feel uniquely isolated or unsupported. That's why, despite the fact I have no military background, I strongly support MAAF. MAAF's leadership and volunteers are dedicated, hard-working, and compassionate, and routinely go above and beyond to provide help and support for our service members. I'm proud to be a regular donor.

In 2013, I was about to start basic training with the USAF. I emailed MAAF, worried that if I didn't attend church, I would be given extra duty. What followed was a chain of events leading to the creation of Humanist Services at Lackland. Jason Torpy reached out to local volunteers and together, they were able to provide services that now benefit about 1,000 trainees every week. I can't ever thank MAAF enough for what they've done, providing a space for Humanists in the military, and helping so many young people find a place they can feel at home.

MAAF does great work and truly strives to reach those who often feel they are "outsiders" in the military community. I spent thirty years in uniform and have watched the active force turn slowly into a religious cadre of proselytizers. This drift from love of country to a religious bent within the ranks often leaves the non-believing atheist, agnostic, humanist, and secular fighting man and woman feeling isolated. MAAF, and and its leadership, work diligently to make sure there is someone who "has their back." The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers is truly a "candle in the dark."

MAAF is the only organization that has reached out to breach the isolation felt by many freethinking cadets at West Point and to help them feel part of a secular community. Without MAAF's encouragement West Point would not have created a club to support secular cadets.

The one thing I hear from people all the time is how they thought, "I'm the only non-religious person in the area." MAAF helps end the isolation so many non-theists feel by providing a community where atheists feel accepted. Their support extends to all military through their packages to deployed soldiers and their efforts to make sure ALL soldiers are valued.

Previous Stories

MAAF stands up for those in the military who are often overlooked, or even worse, denigrated for their lack of religious belief. Local MAAF chapters; MASH (Military Atheists & Secular Humanist) units, provide a welcoming respite from the overly religious environments many service members find themselves in. Like-minded people coming together for meals, debates, community projects and the peace of mind you get from not having to watch every word you say. MAAF National is actively involved with local groups, they even came to the Fayetteville NC Dogwood Festival to support our local group, MASH Ft. Bragg. Jason & Rose are great!!

If you are a non-theist in the military or a veteran, joining MAAF is a great way to amplify your voice!

MAAF sent me monthly care packages while I was deployed. We got care packages from churches too, but it was great to get something from an organization that aligned with my interests and beliefs; I really felt supported. Thanks!

Was president of the first MAAF?MASH group at Fort Bragg in 2011/12. MAAF president deliberately presents false information to the public through the media and other non-profit organizations in order to justify organizations agenda. Does not work with satellite groups at actual military facilities but attempts to align him-self with work being done at a grass roots level and take credit for it. Very unprofessional and unorganized group.

We appreciate you taking the time to leave this review. MAAF would like to take a moment to comment on the items you have posted.
1. MAAF, MAAF President Jason Torpy, and the Executive Board fact check before presenting any information to the media and general public to ensure that the best and correct information is distributed. This is done to ensure that all our servicemembers are receiving equal rights and the same opportunities.
2. MAAF works closely with local Affiliate groups at varying levels. The organization hired an Outreach Coordinator in 2014 to ensure that each local group has the support and resources they need to achieve their goals and support nontheist servicemembers locally. MAAF promotes each group and the successes they have, not to take credit, but to encourage others to get involved locally, to be supported, and help develop the local communities in and around military installations.
3. MAAF employees and the Executive Board do their best to promote the nontheist community, ensure the rights of all servicemembers, and exhibit the very best qualities expected of military service. Each day that the organization is in operation is a day of improvement over the ones that came before. MAAF is in a period of growth, and we are developing even better practices and outreach activities.
We hope you will continue to observe MAAF activities and perhaps participate again. The group at Fort Bragg is very active in their community, and organize monthly gatherings for themselves to come together as a community in order to meet their own needs, and those of their community.
Warm Regards,
Rosalind Eaton
Outreach & Operations Coordinator

I joined MAAF because atheists and those who don't need a religion, don't have anyone on their side in the military. The small number of religious have a large organization supporting them but that doesn't help the majority of the military who are not religious. MAAF is a counter-weight to the strong bias in favor of the religious minority in the military.
MAAF is a great organization and I encourage everyone to join.
Jacksonville, FL, USN (Ret)

They provide moral support for our service people who believe in humanity over religious dogma. They stand up for true equality in the military, not just for those who are Christians. They provide for a support network for those not supported otherwise. Being in the military is a very taxing life. Being an atheist/freethinker in a predominantly Christian population is a burden at times. MAAF helps the same way any community helps one feel a part of things important and lets them know they are not alone.

I am retired Navy. In my Navy career, I found the vast majority of service members to be non-religious or atheists. Yet the military does not acknowledge this fact. So when I found out there was a group who valued me and was willing to fight for the rights of the majority, I quickly became a paying member. I strongly recommend anyone who is a veteran to join MAAF to protect our religious freedom. This is a great organization. http://militaryatheists.org/

MAAF is an outstanding organization that makes good on a service member's declaration to support and defend the Constitution. Service members give up a lot when they join, but their own First Amendment rights shouldn't be one of them. MAAF's advocacy, education, and outreach work towards ensuring that service members stationed all over the world have a support network and know that someone is working back home for them.

MAAF provides me with confidence and camaraderie. I was so happy to find them in a time when I was feeling so choked by religion and the religious in my southern town. As an atheist military spouse to a Christian service member, I find chastisement at every turn; this organization gives me hope that one day, secularists will be met with acceptance and respect.

Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers has sent me two care packages since I have left on deployment. They were filled with all kinds of goodies from cliff bars to wet wipes and q-tips. It is very appreciated what they do. Although I cannot wear the fox hole Atheist pin they sent me I put in in my rack and it puts a smile on my face every night before i got to bed. This is a great association for us atheist serving. Thanks MAAF for all you do.